Ok...time for a bit o blog....

Well now that the new year is upon us once again....I feel the need to write something beery and to show you a few preliminary glimpses of the beer cellar in the new house. 2011 was a year of travel and a great deal of work stress...what better way to deal with the heavy loads with a fine ale in the cellar. It seemed a monumental task moving all of my beers and wines to the new house, but they have settled in just swell. The wines they sit quietly and dream of a future date, while the beers sit pensively as their demise will arrive much sooner. It was a blast to review all the wines and the beers when I restocked the shelves... It is always interesting to find forgotten bottles that have now come into their own. Ask your self this question... "what beers made you smile from 2011"? Ask yourself, what beers will make you smile in the coming year....More stories to come from my last trip to Japan.

Stay Beery my friends,

Stefan

The cellar has moved to a new resting place....

Well it has been sometime since I last danced on the keys about beer and spirits. We moved house and now are located in a new abode in which there is potential for a cellar of sorts. My thoughts are now continuous and like a scheming engineer, I am planning my next step. Of course there are the 1000 other projects that my wife would have me tackle first....However one can scheme and dream while repairing dishwashers and toilets non? More to come my friends...be certain of that...

Cheers,

Stefan

The "State" of things...

Well it has been political malay here in our great capital of Madison... We have been on the front lines and taken a stand for the working man and woman. I am talking about the possible bill that Governor Scott Walker is force feeding through the state assembly and senate. But all political ramblings aside, I am here to talk about beer. When I get my emotions jacked up on certain bourgeoisie affairs, I am often drawn find solice in a nice pint or tulip glass of beer. Beer has been present in revolutions, wars, government overthrows and union strikes. Perhaps there is a pattern to all this... Beer is the social lubricant and cornerstone of modern discussion. We sit over a beer and talk about our problems. If it takes more than one pint to bring about a mediation than so be it...The local tavern or pub is a place where one can discuss the pressures of the workplace, or the political shenanigans that are happening down the street. So in these times of conflict and after a long day, I retreat to my peace and quiet with a pint. Tonight it will be contemplating with a stange of Kölsch, just as Karl Marx would have done in Cologne. So I say to all take up the good fight and remember that beer is here for you when you lay down that sign.

The year of the rabbit...2011

As we enter the year of the rabbit (as seen by the Chinese Zodiac calendar) I sense a disturbance in the force. There is a sad trend occuring around the globe, especially hard hit is the UK. What I am talking about is the demise of the local watering hole...the Pub. Pubs in the UK are closing at a rate of nearly 52 per week (UK Sunday Times). This does not even seem possible, let alone logical in any sane persons mind. The pub is much more than just a place to quaff ale or drink whisky...its a place where people gather to discuss life. For many it is a daily ritual to speak with local administrators, towns folk and neighbors. Here in the US, pubs or taverns, are seen as places to get a good craft beer and some bar food. However it is my feeling that things are changing somewhat and by that I mean for the better. People are seeking out places for their craft beer or exotic cellars through internet networks such as ratebeer or beeradvocate. There are forums as to what pub/brew-pub/tavern/beer specialty bar are serving. Also pub fare is changing here in the US...no longer is a flat top burger and fries acceptable. The trend now seems to be locally sourced ingredients or food that is prepared in a manner/style with someone who graduated from the CIA (Culinary Arts Institute). We see items such as locally harvested organic grass fed beef from the driftless region of western Wisconsin....that's tough to fit on a menu. However with good food, good beer and spirits are usually close by. People are seeking out and looking for food and beer pairings to challenge their palate these days. It seems the slowfood movement is gaining momentum and bringing in a younger, more educated crowd. Perhaps this movement of quality ingredients and unique craft beers will keep the pubs and taverns alive....I would love to believe this is the case, but my realistic self whispers in my ear a different story. It comes down to economics and what people can afford to spend on entertainment and leisure. Someone once told me..." live everyday as if it were your last, because one day my friend it will be". So to me that translates into...its OK to spend 5 dollars more on a unique craft beer that I may not get to try again or to sample some cheese that was made in a monestary somewhere in the nether regions of Europe. So I say to all sieze the day ! Go out enjoy life and while your at it...do your part to save a local pub or tavern. In addition bring forth dialouge with the landlords of these establishments and tell em what ya fancy!

Go forth and beer well,

Stefan

The beer in review....2010

It has been an interesting year with a good deal of time spent in the air, in the airports and in beery places round this wonderful planet of ours. So as we near the end of year, I often take time to reflect on some memorable places or beers that I deem special. To me there is something special about enjoying a beer in a place that does not normally favor or keep a style of beer, due to the location/culture. What I am referring to is the ability to enjoy a Belgian Duvel in the night light of Hong Kong's Kowloon Bay. The beer is tasty after a long day of meetings for sure, but it is the fact that we are thousands of miles away from Belgium. To me this means the craft beer culture is thriving, its permeating the hard and fast macro lager culture with the cunning of "007". Take for instance good ole Wisconsin... It used to be you walked into a local "Sconie" tavern and you asked for a beer, the Keep gave you the single tap he had on (likely a Bud, Miller, Coors or if you were lucky Lienie's). Nowadays, people are educated, palates refined and careful about what they bring to their mouth. We are living in a Renaissance of sorts and some of us are blind to the fact. Many of the wandering pub/tavern crowd do not realize how this came to be. It took the hard work and preaching of craft beer lovers, homebrewers and pub owners to realize the change to come. We live in a land and a world where information travels at the speed of the inter-webs... People blog, they rant, they critique....but most importantly they spread information as a collective whole as to what people are drinking. Take time this Christmas season to ask a beer lover, a pub owner or a homebrew buddy as to what they recommend for a craft beer. Try something you have not graced your lips with before. It may allow you to realize what is happening in the great foamy cosmos of the beer knurd's universe. But most importantly it will allow you to take another step on this beery journey of life.

I bid you a Beery Christmas and a Hoppy New Year... Take time to realize the important people in your lives and let them know that they are loved.

Beer Well,

Stefan

Heading to land of Pasta...and beer???

Well I am off for another business trip to Milan, but while I am there I may let my beery sense take me on walkabout. It is funny to think of Milan being a growing sector for the craft beer movement, but it just may be. Italy has quickly been gaining forward momentum in developing a niche beer market with a fair number of "Gypsie" brewers popping up. Take a look at this article from 2 years ago (via NYtimes) and look closely. This Italian Beer rennaissance has been leaping forward for some time now, with people like Baladin leading the way. The beers are often leaning towards the Belgian side of things and almost always nudged towards pairing with Italian cuisine. What did Emperor Juliane say..." I know Bacchus, the god of wine, for he smells of nectar; but all I know of the god of beer is that he smells of billy goat". Well Italian minds may be changing with regard to the craft beer scene. I will do my best to report back to you on what treasures and stories I find.

Ciao for now,

Stefan

Hoppy Trolls from Indiana....

Well it starts like any other evening, heading home from work to the family....Then an email hits my iPhone letting me know that the Malt House (my local pub) has a Gouden Carolus Noel on tap. Well this is quite a dillema now....what ever shall I do? Well I listen to reason and make haste to the Malt House, convincing myself that it is theraputic to have a special pint after a days work. As I sit and contemplate the fine beer in front of me, while keeping an ever close eye on my time piece, I savor the ale. I leave after one glass feeling pleased that I was able to enjoy one glass and responsibly head home to my loved ones. Upon my arrival to home, I am greeted by my spouse with a questionable smirk as she informs me that we have an event to attend this evening. I ask cautiously...what event? To which she informs that we have a social meeting for the parents of my sons soccer league....at another pub! Joyous relief as feel I have been granted some form of spousal reprieve. A fine time was had by all parents and children alike. When we finally arrived back home to pack the children away for dream land, I thought of Trolls. This thought was brought about by the evenings libations prior...no I did not imbibe that much. I am referring to that special pint that one saves for the proverbial night cap. I am talking about this wonderful harvest ale from Three Floyds Brewing Company. Its called "Broo Doo" and its a delicious ale akin to an IPA. It has one of those funky toy trolls on the label...y'know the ones that had the tossled crazy hair, except this one has hop cones for hair! At any rate, this fine ale is full of citrus notes and is perfectly balanced with the malt. If you find it...buy it, tell yourself you are supporting the trolls...errr Three Floyds...

Good night my beer trolls.....